MCSO arrests 26 undocumented immigrants in 24-hour period
Reported by: Tara Twietmeyer
Last Update: 5/12 10:26 pm

PHOENIX -- The Maricopa County Sheriff's Human Smuggling Unit says they have arrested 26 undocumented immigrants within a 24-hour period.

The suspects are all facing felony human smuggling charges, a class four felony.

Deputies say several undocumented immigrants were arrested just two weeks after Sheriff Joe Arpaio's 14th crime sweep, during traffic stops in north Phoenix that led to the discovery of a drop house in west Phoenix.

A car, possibly used to smuggle people back and forth across the border, was also found at the west Phoenix drop house, deputies said.

Sheriff Arpaio says his office will continue to enforce the felony state human smuggling laws to include arresting undocumented immigrants being smuggled as "co-conspirators."

To date, MCSO has arrested over 2,000 undocumented immigrants under the state human smuggling law. That number represents smugglers, also known as coyotes, and people who have paid to be smuggled into the U.S.

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